Method and apparatus for multi-experience translation of media content with sensor sharing

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus incorporates teachings of the present disclosure and may include, for example, a method including detecting at least one of a plurality of sensor data sources for remotely capturing sensory data from a physical environment of the source device, receiving from the at least one of the plurality of sensor data sources sensory information representing the sensory data from the physical environment of the source device, identifying a plurality of characteristics of the physical environment of the source device from the received sensory information, sending to a second device media content and the sensory information representing the plurality of characteristics of the physical environment of the source device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/207,927, filed Aug. 11, 2011, byBasso et al., entitled “Method and Apparatus for ControllingMulti-Experience Translation of Media Content.” All sections of theaforementioned application are incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/185,487, filed Jul. 18, 2011, byBasso et al., entitled “Method and Apparatus for Multi-ExperienceAdaptation of Media Content” All sections of the aforementionedapplication are incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/185,493, filed Jul. 18, 2011, byBasso et al., entitled “Method and Apparatus for Multi-ExperienceMetadata Translation of Media Content with Metadata.” All sections ofthe aforementioned application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media content and morespecifically to a multi-experience translation of media content.

BACKGROUND

Media content is generally experienced by consumers via devices such ascomputers, televisions, radios, and mobile electronics. Media content isfrequently delivered by service providers, who send media content, suchas television programs, radio, and video, directly to consumers forenjoyment at their physical location. Service providers also oftenprovide access to the internet and to internet-based media content, suchas websites, games, social networking, and virtual-reality applications.Consumer media content experiences can be affected by their sensoryenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIGS. 5-6 depict an illustrative embodiment of a system;

FIGS. 7-11 depict an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for adaptation of media content in accordance with aconsumer sensory environment. In one embodiment, differences betweensensory environments between a source device and a recipient device areused for media content adaptation. Other embodiments are contemplated bythe present disclosure.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a recipient devicehaving a memory and a processor. The processor can be operable to detectat least one of a plurality of sensor data sources for remotelycapturing sensory data from a physical environment of the recipientdevice. The processor can also be operable to receive from the at leastone of the plurality of sensor data sources sensory informationrepresenting the sensory data from the physical environment of therecipient device. The processor can further be operable to identify aplurality of characteristics of the physical environment of therecipient device from the received sensory information. The processorcan be operable to receive from a source device media content andsensory information representing a plurality of characteristics of anenvironment of the source device. The processor can also be operable todetermine at least one difference between the plurality ofcharacteristics of the environment of the source device and theplurality of characteristics of the physical environment of therecipient device. The processor can further be operable to modify apresentation of the media content according to the at least onedifference between the plurality of characteristics of the environmentof the source device and the plurality of characteristics of thephysical environment of the recipient device.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a source device havinga memory and a processor. The processor can be operable to detect atleast one of a plurality of sensor data sources for remotely capturingsensory data from a physical environment of the source device. Theprocessor can also be operable to receive from the at least one of theplurality of sensor data sources sensory information representing thesensory data from the physical environment of the source device. Theprocessor can also be operable to identify a plurality ofcharacteristics of the physical environment of the source device fromthe received sensory information. The processor can further be operableto send to a second device media content and the sensory informationrepresenting the plurality of characteristics of the physicalenvironment of the source device.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a device having amemory and a processor. The processor can be operable to receive firstsensory information representing a plurality of characteristics of aphysical environment of a source device. The at least one of the firstsensory information can include sensory data remotely captured by afirst sensor data source at the physical environment of the sourcedevice. The processor can also be operable to receive second sensoryinformation representing a plurality of characteristics of a physicalenvironment of a recipient device. The at least one of the secondsensory information can include sensory data remotely captured by asecond sensor data source at the physical environment of the sourcedevice. The processor can further be operable to determine at least onedifference between the plurality of characteristics of the physicalenvironment of the source device and the plurality of characteristics ofthe physical environment of the recipient device. The processor can beoperable to receive media content from the source device. The processorcan further be operable to modify a presentation of the media content togenerate modified media content according to the at least one differencebetween the plurality of characteristics of the physical environment ofthe source device and the plurality of characteristics of the physicalenvironment of the recipient device. The processor can be operable toprovide the modified media content to the recipient device over acommunication system.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The novel communication system100 can collect sensory data characterizing physical environments ofdevices, such as media processors. The communication system 100 candetect sensor data sources for remotely capturing sensory data fromphysical environments of devices. The communication system 100 canreceive from the sensor data sources sensory information representingthe sensory data for the devices. The communication system can comparethe sensory information for two different devices and can modify apresentation of media content according to detected differences.

The communication system 100 can represent an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) media system. The IPTV media system can include asuper head-end office (SHO) 110 with at least one super headend officeserver (SHS) 111 which receives media content from satellite and/orterrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media contentcan represent, for example, audio content, moving image content such as2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still imagecontent, and combinations thereof. The SHS server 111 can forwardpackets associated with the media content to one or more video head-endservers (VHS) 114 via a network of video head-end offices (VHO) 112according to a common multicast communication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommon communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other presentor next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies.By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 129 can be used also in themedia system of FIG. 1. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 100. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115 carrying mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to thebuilding 102. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver131 can be transferred to the media processors 106 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a broadbandport to the ISP network 132 to enable interactive services such as VoDand EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system100. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 133 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services.

The present disclosure can apply to other present or next generationover-the-air and/or landline media content services system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or portablecommunication devices 116.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 117 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure.

Communication system 100 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 130 to function as a media content adaptation server(herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 can use commoncomputing and communication technology to perform function 162, whichincludes among other things, modification of media content in accordancewith a consumer's environment. The server 130 can be used to receivemedia content from a source device, such as one of the media processors106, media devices 108, or portable communication devices 116. Theserver 130 can also be used to retrieve sensory information from anenvironment of a recipient device, such as another of the mediaprocessors 106, media devices 108, or portable communication devices116. The server 130 can further be used to identify characteristics ofthe environment of the recipient device corresponding to the sensoryinformation from the environment of the recipient device.

The server 130 can be used to determine differences between thecharacteristics of the environments of the source and recipient devices.The server 130 can also be used to modify a presentation of mediacontent according to the differences between the characteristics of theenvironments of the source and recipient devices. The server 130 canfurther be used to provide the modified media content to the recipientdevice over the communication system 100. The media processors 106 andportable communication devices 116 can be adapted with softwarefunctions 164 and 166, respectively, to further utilize the services ofthe server 130. For example, the media processors 106 and portablecommunication devices 116 can be adapted to execute software functions164 and 166, respectively, to collect and report sensory datarepresenting characteristics of the environments of the media processors106 and portable communication devices 116, respectively.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. The communication system 200 can be overlaid or operablycoupled with communication system 100 as another representativeembodiment of communication system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices(CDs) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260. The MGCF 220 need not be usedwhen a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 220.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 240. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 201 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 204 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 217 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 217 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 206 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS 240 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 202. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with theterminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 may then signal the CD 202 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 2 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 200 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 201, 202with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 100 ofFIG. 1. It is further contemplated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate aswireline or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 117 such as shown inFIG. 1, a femtocell (not shown), a Wi-Fi router, a DECT base unit, oranother suitable wireless access unit to establish communications withthe IMS network 250 of FIG. 2.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD203 or CD 205 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 230 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 260 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. Although not shown, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 221, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unitto establish communications with the IMS network 250 of FIG. 2. Thecellular access base station 121 can operate according to commonwireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile (GSM), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS), World interoperability forMicrowave (WiMAX), Software Defined Radio (SDR), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and so on. Other present and next generation wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies arecontemplated for the CDs of FIG. 2.

It is further contemplated that cellular phones supporting LTE cansupport packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communicationsand thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In thisembodiment, the cellular base station 221 may communicate directly withthe IMS network 250.

Communication system 200 can include or otherwise be coupled with server130 of FIG. 1 for purposes similar to those described above. It isfurther contemplated by the present disclosure that the server 130 canperform the function 162 and thereby provide a media content adaptationapplication for subscribers associated with CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205.CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205 can be adapted with software to performfunction 170 to utilize and integrate with the multi-experienceadaptation application performed by the server 130. It is furthercontemplated that the server 130 can be an integral part of theapplication server(s) 217, where the application server(s) 217 performsfunction 172, which can be substantially similar to function 162 andadapted to the operation of the IMS network 250.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 302 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices130 of the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The webportal 302 can be used for managing services of communication systems100-200. A web page of the web portal 302 can be accessed by a UniformResource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™, Apple's Safari™, or Google'sChrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1-2. The web portal 302 can be configured, forexample, to access a media processor 106 and services managed therebysuch as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog,an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 106. The web portal 302 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the web portal 302 canfurther be utilized to manage and provision software applications162-172 of the devices of FIGS. 1-2, respectively, as described earlier.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2. Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wirelesscommunication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can alsobe adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies(such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such asTCPIP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwertykeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a display410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In anembodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display 410 withnavigation features.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of thecommunication device 400 based on signals generated by a constellationof GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such asnavigation.

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA)or time of flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies. The communicationdevice 400 can be adapted to use the transceiver 402 to communicate witha sensor data source for capturing sensory data for the communicationdevice 400. In one embodiment, the transceiver 402 can detect a sensordata source by detecting the presence of a radio frequencyidentification antenna in the sensor data source. In another example,the transceiver 402 can communicate with the sensor data source by acellular network or by a radio frequency signaling.

The communication device 400 can also include a sensor capture function418. The sensor capture function 418 can be adapted to measure or sampledata from a sensor 420 coupled to the communication device 400. In oneembodiment, the sensor capture block can use an analog-to-digitalconvertor to sample values at the sensor 420.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

Illustrative embodiments of methods that can operate in portions of thecommunication device of FIG. 4 are described below.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 for adaptationof media content in accordance with a consumer sensory environment.System 500 can be overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems100-200 as another representative embodiment of communication systems100-200. System 500 can include a server 530 in communication with mediaprocessors 506 (such as set-top boxes), computing devices 512 and 514(such as a laptop computer, tablet, etc.), and wireless communicationdevices 516 (such as mobile phones, smart phones, etc.). The mobiledevices 516 can be communicatively coupled to the server 530 by way of amobility network coupled to the Internet or other communication means.The computing devices 512 can also be communicatively coupled to theserver 530 by way of the Internet or other communication means.

The server 530 can be capable of modifying media content in accordancewith a consumer's sensory environment. The server 530 can be used toreceive media content from a first source device 516. The media contentfrom the first source device 516 can include metadata corresponding to adigital representation of a sensory environment 542 of the first sourcedevice 516. The server 530 can further be used to receive a digitalrepresentation of an environment 544 of a first recipient device 514corresponding to a plurality of sensory information from the environmentof the first recipient device 514. The server 530 can be used todetermine differences between the digital representations of theenvironments 542 and 544 of the first source device 516 and the firstrecipient device 514. The server 530 can further be used to modify apresentation of the media content according to the differences betweenthe digital representations of the environments 542 and 544 of the firstsource device 516 and the first recipient device 514. The server 530 canfurther be used to provide the modified media content to the firstrecipient device 514 over the communication system 100.

In one embodiment, the first source device 516 can be a wireless ormobile communications device coupled to the communications system 100through a mobility network. The first recipient device 514 can be acomputing device. In another example, a second source device 512 can bea computing device operating in a sensory environment 546, while asecond recipient device 506 can be a media processor, such as a set-topbox, that presents the media content on a display device, operating in asensory environment 548.

Each of environments 542-548 can comprise sensors 507, 513, 515 and 517to provide server 530 sensor data. The sensors can be virtual orphysical. In an embodiment where the sensors 507, 513, 515 and 517 arephysical sensors, these sensors can utilize technology that provides theserver 530 sensory information that includes without limitationtemperature, weather, lighting, color, images, video, audio, locationinformation, time, season of the year, aroma, and type of establishmentfrom which the source or recipient device is operating. Virtual sensorscan be an integral part of a virtual application operating in the sourceor recipient devices. A virtual application in the present context canrepresent a video game, virtual game such as Second Life™, anapplication including avatars, or a social media application. Thevirtual sensors can also provide the server 530 sensory information suchas temperature, weather, lighting, color, images, video, audio, locationinformation, time, season of the year, aroma, and type of establishmentpresented by the virtual application. Other forms of sensory data such amotion data (velocity, acceleration, etc.), orientation data (e.g.,compass information) and other forms of virtual applications arecontemplated by the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the sensors 507, 513, 515, and 517 can be coupled tothe source and recipient devices 506, 512, 514, and 516. In this case,the source and recipient devices 506, 512, 514, and 516 can be adaptedto capture sensory data directly from the sensors 507, 513, 515, and517. In another example, the sensors 507, 513, 515, and 517 can bemonitored by other devices, called sensor data sources. The sensory datafor the sensor environments 542, 544, 546, and 548 can be captured bydevices operating in the sensory environments 542, 544, 546, and 548.The sensory data captured by the sensor data sources can be transferredto the source and recipient devices 506, 512, 514, and 516. The sensordata sources are further explained in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 600 for collectingsensory data from sense sources operating in the sensory environment ofthe source and recipient devices in accordance with a consumer sensoryenvironment. System 600 can be overlaid or operably coupled tocommunication systems 100-200 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication systems 100-200 or a portion of communication systems100-200. It should be understood, for purposes of this illustration,that the source and recipient devices 644 and 604 are interchangeable,such that the source device 644 and the recipient device 604 can eachcapture or collect sensory data from the environment by way of similarcapabilities as herein described.

The source and recipient devices 644 and 604 can capture sensory datafrom their respective locations by direct or indirect means. The sourceand recipient devices 644 and 604 can be directly coupled to sensors 646and 606. The source and recipient devices 644 and 604 can be adapted tomeasure or sample data from sensors 646 and 604. In one embodiment, therecipient device 604 can use an analog-to-digital convertor to samplevalues at the sensor 420. In one embodiment, the sensor 606 can be asmart device such that sensory data can be captured by the recipientdevice via a digital communication link with the sensor. These sensorscan utilize technology that provides the source and recipient devices644 and 604 sensory information that includes without limitationtemperature, weather, lighting, color, images, video, audio, locationinformation, time, season of the year, aroma, and type of establishmentfrom which the source or recipient device is operating.

The source and recipient devices 644 and 604 can collect sensory datafrom their environment, by indirect means, through communication with asensor data source. Sensor data sources 614, 624, and 634 can besingle-purpose or multi-purpose devices. For example, the recipientdevice 604 can be located near a sensor data source 614 that is astand-alone light sensor. The sensor data source 614 can include asensor 616, such as photodiode, capable of capturing light intensity atthe location. The sensor data source 614 can further include a “smart”capability for capturing a light intensity signal from the sensor 616and converting the light intensity signal to digital data. The sensordata source 614 can include a one-way (sending only) or a two-way(sending and receiving) wireless communication capability 618 forcommunicating the digital light intensity data to other devices, such asthe recipient device 604 by way of a wireless communication capability608 of the recipient device. The sensor data source 614 can be used foranother purpose. For example, the aforementioned stand-alone lightsensor data source 614 can be applied to a building as an input of asecurity system that automatically controls lighting and other securitysettings based on the digital light intensity data reported from thelight sensor data source 614. In this case, the building system securitysystem is the primary user of the light sensor data source 614 while therecipient device 604 can access the digital light intensity data fromthe light sensor data source 614 as a secondary, and perhapstemporarily, when the recipient device 604 is near the location of thelight sensor data source 614. In this way, the recipient device 604 canbenefit from access to light intensity data for use in modifying a mediapresentation without incurring the overhead for sensing light intensity.

Sensor data sources 614, 624, and 634 can be also incorporated intoother devices. In one embodiment, a sensor data source 634 can be amobile communication device, such as a mobile phone. An audio sensor 636(microphone) can be built into a mobile communication device, for use incellular communication. The audio sensor can also be used to capturebackground audio intensity in the environment where the mobilecommunication device is located. In this case, the sensor data source634 has a primary use as a mobile phone and secondary use as a sensordata source for another device, such as the source device 644. In oneembodiment, whenever the mobile phone sensor data source 634 is notbeing used for cellular communication or for other user activities suchas recording audio or video, the audio sensor 636 can be made availablefor use by other nearby devices, such as the source device 644. Themobile phone sensor data source 634 can capture an audio signal from theaudio sensor 636 and convert this into a digital audio signal. In oneembodiment, the digital audio signal can be a “live” audio signal, suchthat it contains a representation of the actual audio occurring at themobile phone sensor data source 634. In one embodiment, the digitalaudio signal can merely be an intensity signal that filters outdiscernable audio content. The mobile sensor data source 634 can sharethe digital audio data with the source device 644 over a mobilitynetwork. In one embodiment, the mobile sensor data source 634 can sharethe digital audio data with another device, such as the recipient device604, by way of an internet link or a wired network.

By receiving sensory data from sensor data sources 614, 624 and 634sharing the same environment, the source device 644 or recipient device604 can collect substantial environmental sensory information. Sharingof sensory data can be via cooperative agreements or opt-in agreementswhere devices are enrolled by their service provider and are obligatedto share sensory data with other devices unless opted out. The sensordata sources 614, 624, and 634 can be other media processors 106 orportable communication device 116 within the communication system 100.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method 700 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-6. Method 700 can be applied to a recipientdevice 604 or a source device 644 to detect a sensor data source 614,624 and 634 capable and willing to share sensory data that has beencaptured by the sensor data source in the same environment as the sourcedevice or recipient device. The method 700 can begin in step 704 where amedia processor device, such as a recipient device 604 or a sourcedevice 644, broadcasts a request for sensory data to any sensor datasources 614, 624 and 634 in the same environment as the media processordevice. In one embodiment, the request can be a radio frequency message.The media processor device 604 and 644 can send out a message using, forexample, short range radio frequency in the scientific, medical, andindustrial (SFI) band. The media processor device 604 and 644 can sendthe message on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications link. In oneembodiment, the media processor device 604 and 644 can send out a radiofrequency signal capable of reading passive radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tags on the sensor data sources 614, 624 and 634.

The media processor device 604 and 644 can send the message over acellular network, a wired network, or an internet protocol capablenetwork. The request message can include information identifying themedia processor device 604 and 644. In one embodiment, the requestmessage can include a media access control (MAC) address of the mediaprocessor device. The request message can further include information toidentify a service provider of the media processor device 604 and 644.The request message can further include information to identify a groupthat is sharing sensory data. The request message can further includeinformation to identify a specific type or identity of sensory dataneeded by the media processor device 604 and 644 or if the mediaprocessor device will accept any available data from a sensor datasource 614, 624 and 634. The request message can be in the form of arequest to create a communications link between the media processordevice 604 and 644 and an available sensor data source 614, 624 and 634or the message can be a continuation of communications from an alreadyestablished link.

In step 706, the media processor device 604 and 644 can receive aresponse sent from any of the sensor data sources 614, 624 and 634offering the sensory data. The response can include information aboutthe capabilities of the sensor data sources 614, 624 and 634, theirrespective locations, their service provider, whether they areauthorized to share sensory data, or any other relevant informationwhich can be useful to the media processor device 604 and 644. Theresponse can be sent and received over the same medium as was used bythe media processor device 604 and 644 to send the request message. So,for example, the media processor device 604 and 644 can send a requestmessage by way of short range RF communication. The sensor data sources614, 624 and 634 then responds via the same short range RF. The responsecan be sent by way of a different medium. For example, where the mediaprocessor device 604 and 644 sends a request message that is capable ofreading a RFID tag, the response can be a combination of the RFIDreading (identifying the sensor data sources 614, 624 and 634) and amessage in another medium, such as short range RF that includes furtherinformation on a specific sensor data source 614, 624 and 634.

In step 708, the media processor device 604 and 644 can receive sensoryinformation representing sensory data from the sensor data source 614,624 and 634. The sensory information can simply be a digital datareading from a sensor 616, 626 and 636. The sensory information can be aset of data readings, such as several different types of sensory datacollected by a single sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 or a series ofdata points for a single specific sensory data type that have beencollected over time. The sensory information can be the products of astatistical analysis of sensory data readings, such as an average valueor a weighted average or a moving average.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative method 800 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-6. Method 800 can be applied to a recipientdevice 604 or to a source device 644 to detect a sensor data source 614,624 and 634 capable and willing to share sensory data that has beencaptured by the sensor data source in the same environment as the sourcedevice or recipient device. The method 800 can begin with step 804 wherea sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 broadcasts an offer of sensorydata to any media processor device 604 and 644 nearby. In oneembodiment, the request can be a radio frequency message. The sensordata source 614, 624 and 634 can send out a message using, for example,short range radio frequency band, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. In oneembodiment, the sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 can send out a radiofrequency signal capable of reading passive radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tags on the media processor device 604 and 644.

The sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 can send the message over acellular network, a wired network, or an internet protocol capablenetwork. The request message can include information identifying thesensor data source 614, 624 and 634. In one embodiment, the requestmessage can include a media access control (MAC) address of the sensordata source 614, 624 and 634. The request message can further includeinformation to identify a service provider of the sensor data source614, 624 and 634. The request message can further include information toidentify a group that is sharing sensory data. The request message canfurther include information to identify a specific type or identity ofsensory data offered by the sensor data source 614, 624 and 634. Therequest message can be in the form of a request to create acommunications link between the sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 andany available media processor device 604 and 644 or the message can be acontinuation of communications from an already established link.

In step 806, any of the the media processor devices 604 and 644 can senda response to the offering sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 acceptingthe offer of the sensory data. The acceptance response can be sent andreceived over the same medium as was used by the sensor data source 614,624 and 634 to send the offering message. So, for example, the sensordata source 614, 624 and 634 can send a message offering sensory data byway of short range RF communication. The media processor device 604 and644 can then respond via the same short range RF. Alternatively, theresponse can be sent by way of a different medium. For example, wherethe sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 sends a request message that iscapable of reading a RFID tag, the response can be a combination of theRFID reading (identifying the media processor device 604 and 644) and amessage in another medium, such as short range RF that includes furtherinformation on a media processor device 604 and 644.

In step 808, the media processor device 604 and 644 can receive sensoryinformation representing sensory data from the sensor data source 614,624 and 634. The sensory information can simply be a digital datareading from a sensor 616, 626 and 636. The sensory information can be aset of data readings, such as several different types of sensory datacollected by a single sensor data source 614, 624 and 634 or a series ofdata points for a single specific sensory data type that have beencollected over time. The sensory information can be the products of astatistical analysis of sensory data readings, such as an average valueor a weighted average or a moving average.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative method 900 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-6. Method 700 can begin with step 902 in which arecipient device 604 can detect a sensor data source 614 for remotelycapturing sensory data from a physical environment of the recipientdevice. In step 904, the recipient device 604 can receive from a sensordata source 614, 624, and 634 sensory information representing thesensory data from the physical environment of the recipient device.

In step 906, the recipient device 506, 514 can identify characteristicsof the physical environment of the recipient device from the receivedsensory information. The recipient device 506, 514 can identifycharacteristics of the environment of the recipient device from theretrieved sensory information. For example, the recipient device candetermine a mean value or a range of values for temperature based oncaptured temperature data. The recipient device can convert capturedvideo into a standard file format or into a series of still images.

In step 908, the recipient device 506, 514 can receive from a sourcedevice 512, 516 media content and sensory information representingcharacteristics of an environment of the source device. The recipientdevice 506, 514 can receive media content from a source device 512, 516.The recipient device 506, 514 can be a media processor 106, such as aset-top box. The media processor 106 can be connected to thecommunication system 100 via a gateway 104. The media processor 106 candeliver media content from the communication system 100 to a mediadevice 108, such as a television or a computing device. The recipientdevice 506, 514 can be a portable communication device 116, such as acomputing device, wireless computing device, or mobile communicationsdevice, and can receive media content from the communication system 100via a mobility network. As with the recipient device 506, 514, thesource device 512, 516 can also be a media processor 106, such as aset-top box, and can be connected to the communication system 100 via agateway 104. The source device 512, 516 can be a portable communicationdevice 116, such as a computing device, wireless computing device, ormobile communications device, and can receive media content from thecommunication system 100 via a mobility network.

The media content can be any combination of text, audio, still images,video, three-dimensional images and video, graphics, orcomputer-generated media, and virtual gaming or avatar-based content.The media content can be associated with television programming, movies,concerts, news, books, articles, audio communication, text messaging,SMS, instant messaging, weather reports, programming information,community information, captioning, video game applications, virtualworld applications, applications including avatars, social mediaapplications, and websites. The media content can originate at thesource device 512, 516 or from a service provider operating on thecommunication network 100. A service provider can provide limitedservices, such as only providing media programming, or can providebroad-based services, such as media programming, cellular phone,internet access, and on-demand services. These services can serve as anoriginating point for all or part of the media content at the sourcedevice 512, 516. The media content can be a combination of contentsourced from the service provider and content generated or modified bythe source device 512, 516. The media content can be received by therecipient device 506, 514 directly from the source device 512, 516, canbe received by the recipient device 506, 514 from the service provider,or can be received by the recipient device 506, 514 from the server 530.

The media content from the source device 512, 516 can include metadatacorresponding to a digital representation of an environment 542, 546 ofthe source device 512, 516. The environment 542, 546 of the sourcedevice 512, 516 can be based on sensory data collected at the sourcedevice. A recipient device 506, 514 can also have an environment 544,548 that can be represented by sensory data collected at that recipientdevice. Sensory data can represent an environment 542, 546 of the sourcedevice 512, 516 or an environment 544, 548 of a recipient device 506,514. Sensory data representing characteristic of the environment of thesource or recipient device can be derived from a “world” in which thedevice is operating. This “world” can be a physical world or a virtualworld. A physical world for a source or recipient device can bedescribed as environmental conditions that can be physically experiencedby one consuming media content at the source or recipient device. Avirtual world for a source or recipient device can be described asenvironmental conditions presented by the source or recipient device fora consumer of virtual content to virtually experience. Physical andvirtual worlds and the collection, distribution, and use of sensory datarepresenting a physical or virtual environment are further describedbelow with respect to a source device 512, 516. However, it is to beunderstood that similar sensory data can be collected, distributed, andused for representing a physical or virtual environment for a recipientdevice 506, 514. In one embodiment, the sensory data can be derived in aphysical environment from sensors 507, 513, 515 and 517 as describedearlier.

The physical world can be described as a collection of environmentalconditions and can be assessed by measuring and collecting sensory datarepresenting these environmental conditions. For example, sensory datacan be collected for levels of lighting, temperature, and colors, forbackground audio, video, and images, and for location details, such asroom spatial features, time-zone, season, and type of establishment(home or commercial). The source device 512, 516 can be described asoperating in a sensory environment 546, 542 that includes a compilationof sensory data for the physical world of the source device. Forexample, temperature, light intensity, and colorimetric data, aromaticdata, background audio, video, and still images, and locationinformation can be collected at the source device 512, 516. Sensory datafor the sensory environment 546, 542 can be captured and/or compiled bysensors 513 and 517 operating in the source device 512, 516, or by otherdevices coupled to the communication system 100, or by a combination ofboth.

The sensory data of the physical environment for the source device 512,516 can be translated into a standard formats, before being communicatedto the recipient device 506, 514 or to the media adaptation server 530.For example, raw temperature data can be initially collected at thesource device 512, 516 by direct sensing using a thermo probe. The rawtemperature data can be converted into a series of digital readings,statistically converted to a mean temperature or median temperature orrange of temperatures as needed. A single temperature, such as the meanor median, or a temperature range can then be reported from the sourcedevice 512, 516 and received at the recipient device 506, 514, or server530. A similar approach can be used for other sensory data, such aslight intensity, colorimetric data, aromatic data, or volume ofbackground sound or audio.

The sensory data of the physical environment for the source device 512,516 can include audio, video, and still images. For example, a paintingmight appear on a wall at the location of the source device. Thispainting represents a sensory aspect of the physical environment thatcan be replicated exactly or in modified form at a recipient device 506,514. The painting image can be captured at the source device 512, 516,by means of, for example, a camera device. The captured image can besaved as an image file, such as a Joint Photographic Experts Group, orJPEG, image file, or as another image file format. Similarly, backgroundaudio content, such as recorded or live music or soundtrack, ambientnoise, or any combination of sound present at the source device 512,516, can be captured by means of, for example, a microphone device. Thecaptured sound can be saved as a sound file, such as a Moving PictureExperts Group, or MPEG, sound file, or as another image file format.Similarly, background video or a combination of video and audio or ofvideo, audio, and still images can be captured at the source device. Forexample, a video camera or a combination of a video camera andmicrophone could be used to capture video of the environment of thesource device 512, 516. Video data can be saved, for example, as MPEGvideo files.

The sensory data of the physical environment for the source device 512,516 can include location information. For example, the location of thesource device 512, 516 can be captured by accessing Global PositioningSystem (GPS) satellite services. If the source device 512, 516 isphysically attached to the communication system 100, then its locationcan be determined by reference to the location of other entities ofknown locations. For example, if the source device 512, 516 is connectedto a router in a building of known location, then the location of thebuilding can be reported as the location. If the source device 512, 516accesses the communication system via a component of a mobility network117, such as specific cell tower, then the location of the mobilitynetwork component can be used.

The sensory data of the physical environment of the source device 512,516 can be provided to the recipient device 512, 514 or the mediaadaptation server 530. The sensory data can be sent as streaming data,files, or messages. The sensory data can be continuously updated or canbe periodic snapshots of environmental conditions. For example,temperature can reported each hour or can reported continuously witheach data transmission. Video data can be sent as a continuous stream orcan be converted into a series of still image snapshots to conservesystem bandwidth.

Sensory data representing a virtual “world” of a source device 512, 516can include environmental components that can be experienced virtuallyby one consuming virtual media content at the source device 512, 516. Avirtual world can be an environment that is presented by the sourcedevice 512, 516 as part of some type of virtual media content. Virtualmedia content can include video game applications, virtual worldapplications, applications that include avatars, social mediaapplications, and websites. Virtual media content can incorporatescenarios, perspectives, and role-playing attributes that allow aconsumer of the virtual media content to mentally experience variousaspects of another world, persona, or reality. Virtual media content caninclude virtual representations of otherwise physical phenomena, such aslighting, temperature, color, aroma, sound, movement, video, images, andspatial relationships. This “virtual” sensory data imitates physicalphenomena within a virtual context to bring a sense or “realness” to theexperience for the consumer.

Virtual sensory data representing components of the virtual environmentcan be available at the source device 512, 516 as digital data that isaccessed by a video game or virtual world application executing on thesource device. This virtual sensory data for the virtual environment canbe accessible by the game or application from graphics data files, MPEGfiles, JPEG files, and parameter files. The virtual sensory data canalso be accessible to the source device 512, 516 by accessing or parsingthese files as saved in local storage or as made available from anetwork source. The source device 512, 516 can be used a display devicethat merely reproduces graphics and audio from a data stream. In such acase, the virtual sensory data can be collected by monitoring run-timedata variables available through the operating system of the sourcedevice 512, 516 or available from a graphic card or an audio card.

The sensory data representing the environment of the source device 512,516 can be sent to the recipient device 506, 514 and/or to the server530. The sensory data can be sent by way of a “pushing” scheme, wheredata is broadcast or reported from the source device 512, 516 to therecipient device 506, 514 or server 530 as determined by the sourcedevice. The sensory data can be sent by way of “pulling” scheme, wheredata is only sent to the recipient device and/or server when requestedby the recipient device and/or server.

The sensory data representing the environment of the source device 512,516 can be included with the media content as metadata. The metadata canprovide information on the media content. In this case, the metadata cancorrespond to sensory data collected for an environment of the sourcedevice 512, 516, where the environment can be a physical or virtualenvironment a user of the source device would experience as part of themedia content. For example, the temperature at the source device can bemeasured and saved. A user would experience the collected temperatureswhile viewing media content at the source device. A metadata descriptorof labeled “average temperature” can be created, or tagged, tocorrespond to a calculated mean value for the collected temperaturereadings taken at the source device. Similarly, a metadata descriptor of“hourly temperatures” can be tagged to correspond to each hourly valueof the set of collected temperatures. Tagging the various sensory datameasurement into metadata can be used to provide an infrastructure forsending and receiving the sensory data in a standardized format alongwith the media content.

If the media content is streamed from the source device 512, 516 to theserver 530 or to the recipient device 506, 514, the tagged metadata canbe included within a header, or overhead, section of the data stream. Ifthe media content is sent from the source device 512, 516 to the server530 or the recipient device 506, 514 as a discrete file or series offiles, the metadata can be included as a part of one or more of thefiles or as a separate file. By sending the metadata within the mediacontent data structure, the metadata is automatically included with themedia content. Error detection and/or correction techniques, applicableto the streaming or file-based media content data, can be automaticallyapplied on the metadata.

The metadata can be defined as a series of data fields or elementsincluded in an overhead section or file of the media content data. Themetadata can be included with the media content using metadatacontainers which can encapsulate a set of metadata as a group. Themetadata containers can be defined according to standard formats, suchas the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard. Theenvironmental metadata can be included in metadata containers along withother metadata elements associated with media content. For example, themetadata for the sensory data can be included with metadata storinginformation on copyright owner, artist, data, or genre of the mediacontent. The metadata can be included as encoded data. The metadata canbe encrypted.

Individual metadata elements can be used to create a digitalrepresentation of the overall environment of the source device 512, 516.For example, the metadata descriptors for temperature, such as averagetemperature and hourly temperature, can be combined with similarmetadata descriptors for time of day, date, location, color, locationdetails, and other data collected from the physical or virtualenvironment. The combination of several or all of the metadatadescriptors can be used to establish a digital environment for thesource device 512, 516. That is, the set of metadata can provide acombination of environmental factors sufficient to describe an overallsource device environment. The set of metadata descriptors can bedescribed as a digital representation, or digital model, of theenvironment. When the set of metadata is sent along with the mediacontent, a digital representation of the environment of the sourcedevice 512, 516 is thereby provided within the media content.

In step 910, the recipient device can determine at least one differencebetween the characteristics of the environment of the source device andcharacteristics of the physical environment of the recipient device. Therecipient device 506, 512 can compare the set of characteristicsrepresenting the environment of the source device 512, 516 with the setof characteristics representing the environment of the recipient device.The recipient device 506, 514 can compare, for example, a physicalenvironment at the source device 512, 516 with a physical environment atthe recipient device 506, 514 by comparing the sensory data from eachdevice. For example, the source device 512, 516 may report brightlighting conditions, such a sunshine, as exhibited by lighting intensitysensory data. By comparison, the recipient device 506, 514 may haveidentified low-level lighting conditions based on a cloudy day ornighttime or poor indoor lighting. The recipient device 506, 514 cancompare the lighting conditions as like categories and detect thedifferences. Similarly, the recipient device 506, 514 can compare all ofthe other reported or identified physical sensory data for the twodevices, such as temperature, background audio, location, and the like.

For example, the recipient device 506, 514 can detect that backgroundwalls at the location of the source device 512, 516 are different thanthose at the location of the recipient device. The recipient device 506,514 can detect that the background walls at the location of the sourcedevice 512, 516 are smaller or shaped differently than those at thelocation of the recipient device. The recipient device 506, 514 candetect that the time zone at the location of the source device 512, 516is different than the time zone at the location of the recipient device.The recipient device 506, 514 can detect that the source device 512, 516is located at tropical latitude while the recipient device is located ina four-season climate that is currently experiencing winter conditions.

The recipient device 506, 514 can compare value or numerical-basedsensory data, such a temperature or light intensity or locationcoordinates. The recipient device 506, 514 can also comparecontent-based sensory data, such as video, audio, or still image contentto determine differences and can establish where these differences areattributable to the physical environments of the source device 512, 516and the recipient device 506, 514. The recipient device 506, 514 canalso compare presentation resources of the recipient device to those ofthe source device 512, 516. For example, the source device 512, 516 mayhave sophisticated surround sound audio resources, while the recipientdevice 506, 514 has stereo audio presentation resources. Additionally,the source device 512, 516 may have a high definition display resource,while the recipient device 506, 514 has a standard definition displayresource.

In addition to comparing physical environments, the recipient device506, 512 can compare virtual environments. For example, source device512, 516 can be presenting a virtual-reality video game while recipientdevice 506, 514 can be presenting a virtual application featuringavatars and virtual persons. The source device 512, 516 and recipientdevice 506, 514 can each be presenting a different virtual world, eachwith a virtual environment made up of many characteristics, to the usersof the respective devices. The recipient device 506, 512 can compare theset of characteristics representing the virtual environment of thesource device 512, 516 with the set of characteristics representing thevirtual environment of the recipient device. For example, the sourcedevice 512, 516 may report virtual conditions of out-of-doors, darkness,and a storm in the virtual-reality game as exhibited by sensory data ofvirtual lighting intensity or virtual precipitation or virtual wind. Bycomparison, the recipient device 506, 514 may have identifiedlow-lighting, but calm, indoor conditions, in the avatar-based game. Therecipient device 506, 514 can compare the virtual lighting, weather, andlocation conditions as like virtual categories and detect differences.Similarly, the recipient device 506, 514 can compare all of the otherreported or identified virtual sensory data for the two devices, such asaroma, background audio, images, and the like. The recipient device 506,514 can determine differences and can establish where these differencesare attributable to the virtual environments of the source device 512,516 and the recipient device 506, 514.

In addition to comparing physical-to-physical and virtual-to-virtualenvironments, the recipient device 506, 514 can also comparephysical-to-virtual and virtual-to-physical environments. For example,the recipient device 506, 514 can compare, for example, a physicalenvironment reported from the source device 512, 516 with a virtualenvironment presented at the recipient device 506, 514 by comparing theenvironment characterizations of each device. A characteristic of thevirtual environment presented on recipient device 506, 514 can beadapted to imitate a real-world, physical characteristic beingexperienced at the source device 512, 516. For example, the sourcedevice 512, 516 can be at a location experiencing a passing train thatcan be heard as audio and felt as vibration. Characteristics of audioand/or vibration can be reported from the source device 512, 516, suchas by an audio MPEG file, a background noise measurement (frequency,amplitude), or a vibration reading (frequency, amplitude). The recipientdevice 506, 514 can compare the reported physical sensory data tocharacteristics of the virtual world presented by the recipient device.The virtual world, for example, can be presenting a noisy restaurantwhere characteristic components of noise and vibration have beensimulated. The recipient device 506, 514 can compare the noise andvibration between the physical world where a train is passing and thevirtual world of the restaurant and detect differences that can beimportant to adapting a media presentation from a physical location ofthe source device 512, 516 to the virtual “location” of the recipientdevice.

In step 912, the recipient device can modify a presentation of the mediacontent according to the at least one difference between the pluralityof characteristics of the environment of the source device and theplurality of characteristics of the physical environment of therecipient device. In step 914, the recipient device 506, 514 can adapt auser interface 404 of the recipient device 506, 514 according to adifference, or combination of differences, between the characteristicsof the environments of the source device 512, 516 and the recipientdevice. The recipient device 506, 514 can modify characteristics of adisplay 410 on a user interface 404 of the recipient device 506, 514 orof a user interface, such as display 508, in communication with therecipient device. For example, the source device 512, 516 can be locatedin bright conditions, while the recipient device 506, 514 is located indark conditions. The recipient device 506, 514 can detect the differencein environment and adjusts settings on the display 404, 508, such asbrightness, backlighting, or contrast. The recipient device 506, 514 canadjust an audio system 412 to account for difference in background noisebetween the recipient device and the source device 512, 516.

The recipient device 506, 514 can also modify the user interface 404 toaccount for differences between physical and virtual worlds or betweentwo virtual worlds. For example, a user of the source device 512, 516,such as computing device, can be watching a music video within a virtualreality, avatar-based application presented on the computing device(e.g., the user's avatar is watching the video). The user can decide toshare this virtual experience with someone else on a recipient device506, 514 in the form of a mobile phone. The user of the user of thesource device 512, 516 can initiate a sharing of the music video contentwith the user of the recipient device 506, 514 by, for example, sendinga text with a link that directs the recipient device 506, 514 to thesource device 512, 516. The recipient device 506, 514 can receive themusic video (media content) from the source device 512, 516 along withsensory data representing the virtual environment that the source device512, 516 is presenting. The recipient device 506, 514 can compare thereceived, virtual environment characteristics of the source device 512,516 with retrieved and identified characteristics of the physicalenvironment of the recipient device 506, 514. The recipient device 506,514 can determine, for example, that the virtual world presentation ofthe music video includes a background sound of a virtual fountain. Therecipient device 506, 514 can alter the audio system 412 of the mobilephone to account for the presence of the fountain at the source device512, 516 either by adding a fountain sound to a reproduction of themusic video through the mobile phone audio system 412 (to share thecomplete experience of the source device user) or by reducing theplayback volume of the music video through the audio system (to accountfor a quieter listening environment for the recipient device user).

In step 916, the recipient device 506, 514 can translate or transcodethe media content according to the differences between thecharacteristics of the environment of the source device 512, 516 and thecharacteristics of the environment of the recipient device 506, 514. Therecipient device 506, 514 can modify the format of the media content,can change the encoding scheme used for the media content, or can alterthe media content to account for the detected environment differenceswhen the media content presented by or on the recipient device 506, 514.For example, the source device 512, 516 can be presenting a live camvideo feed of a flock of penguins in Antarctica to a user who is ridingon a subway train. The user of the source device 512, 516 decides toshare this television show with a user of a recipient device 506, 514.The recipient device 506, 514 can be presenting, at the same time, avirtual reality application where the user of the recipient device 506,514 is “living” in a virtual city. The user of the recipient device 506,514 can be attending a football game in the virtual-reality city. Ascoreboard at the virtual football game can be used to display video.Various physical world phenomena at the source device 512, 516 can beretrieved by the recipient device 506, 514 as sensory datacharacterizing the source device environment. The recipient device 506,514 can detect differences between the source and recipient devices. Forexample, the recipient device 506, 514 can transcode the media contentfrom the source device 512, 516 to work in the virtual environment byconverting from a streaming video format to an embedded video format,such as Flash™ video, a trademark of the Adobe Corporation of San Jose,Calif.

In another illustration, the media content can be in the form of contentof a virtual reality world being presented on the source device 512,516. For example, the source device 512, 516 can be presenting a virtualreality application where an avatar of a user “lives” in a house. Thehouse can have elements of home décor such as paintings, wall colors,and landscaping. The user decides to share her home in her virtualreality application with a user of the recipient device 506, 514, who isalso a “resident” in a virtual reality application. In the context ofthe virtual reality application, the décor elements can be identified ascharacteristics of the environment of the user of the source device 512,516. Therefore, the recipient device 506, 514 can receive the décorelements as characteristics of the source device virtual environment andcompare these characteristics to the virtual environment of therecipient device 506, 514. The user of the recipient device 506, 514 canhave different decor—paintings, colors, landscaping—at his house. Therecipient device 506, 514 can detect these differences and alter thecontent of the first user's house, as presented to the second user atthe recipient device 506, 514. The recipient device 506, 514 cantranslate the first house by substituting part of the content of thesecond house (to make the second user feel more at home in his friend'shouse).

FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative method 1000 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-6. Method 1000 can begin with step 1004 in whicha source device 512, 516 can detect sensor data sources 614, 624, and624 for remotely capturing sensory data from a physical environment ofthe source device. In step 1006, the source device 512, 516 can receivefrom the sensor data source 614, 624, and 624 sensory informationrepresenting the sensory data from the physical environment of thesource device.

In step 1008, the source device 512, 516 can identify characteristics ofthe physical environment of the source device from the received sensoryinformation. The source device 512, 516 can identify characteristics ofthe environment of the source device from the retrieved sensoryinformation. For example, the source device can determine a mean valueor a range of values for temperature based on captured temperature data.The source device can convert captured video into a standard file formator into a series of still images. In step 1010, the source device 512,516 can send media content and sensory information representingplurality of characteristics of physical environment of source device toa second device, such as a recipient device 506, 514 or the server 530.The sensory information representing plurality of characteristics ofphysical environment of source device can be used by a server 530 or bya recipient device 506, 514 to determine differences betweencharacteristics of the physical environment of the source device 512,516 and a set of characteristics of the recipient device 506, 514. Theset of characteristics of the recipient device 506, 514 can be physicalor virtual characteristics. The presentation of the source-suppliedmedia content can be modified on the recipient device 506, 514 baseddifferences between the physical environment of the source device 512,516 and the physical and/or virtual environment of the recipient device506, 514.

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative method 1100 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-5. Method 1100 can begin with step 1102 in whicha server 530 can receive first sensory information representingcharacteristics of the physical environment of the source device 512,516. The first sensory information includes sensory data remotelycaptured by sensor data sources 514, 524, and 534 at a physicalenvironment of the source device. In step 1104, the server 530 canreceive second sensory information representing characteristics of thephysical environment of the recipient device 512, 516. The secondsensory information includes sensory data remotely captured by sensordata sources 514, 524, and 534 at a physical environment of therecipient device.

In step 1106, the server 530 can determine difference betweencharacteristics of the physical environment of source device 512, 516and characteristics of the physical environment of recipient device 506,514. The server 530 can compare, for example, a physical environment atthe source device 512, 516 with a physical environment at the recipientdevice 506, 514 by comparing the sensory data from each device. Theserver 530 can determine differences and can establish where thesedifferences are attributable to the physical or virtual environments ofthe source device 512, 516 and the recipient device 506, 514. The server530 can determine differences between characteristics of theenvironments of the source device 512, 516 and the recipient device 506,514 by similar means, and with similar capabilities, as can be used bythe recipient device 506, 514.

In step 1108, the server 530 can receive media content from a sourcedevice 512, 516. The server 530 can be used as a media adaptationserver. The media content can be any combination of text, audio, stillimages, video, three-dimensional images and video, graphics, orcomputer-generated media, and virtual gaming or avatar-based content.The media content can be a combination of content sourced from theservice provider and content generated or modified by the source device512, 516. The media content can be received by the server 530 directlyfrom the source device 512, 516 or can be received by the server 530from another device of the service provider.

The media content from the source device 512, 516 can include metadatacorresponding to a digital representation of an environment 542, 546 ofthe source device 512, 516. The environment 542, 546 of the sourcedevice 512, 516 can be based on sensory data collected at the sourcedevice. A recipient device 506, 514 can also have an environment 544,548 that can be represented by sensory data collected at that recipientdevice. The first sensory data can represent characteristics of theenvironment 542, 546 of the source device 512, 516 that can be derivedfrom a “physical world” in which the device is located or from a“virtual world” being presented by the source device 512, 516, asdescribed above. In step 704, the server 530 can receive second sensorydata representing characteristics of an environment 544, 548 of therecipient device 506, 514. The second sensory data can representcharacteristics of the environment 544, 548 that can be derived from a“physical world” in which the device is located or from a “virtualworld” being presented by the recipient device 506, 514, as describedabove. Since the server 530 can be located remotely from the recipientdevice 506, 514, the recipient device can report sensory data to theserver 530 in a fashion similar to the reporting of sensory data by thesource device 512, 516 described in the prior embodiment.

In step 1110, the server 530 can modify a presentation of media contentaccording to the differences between the characteristics of the sensoryenvironments of the source device 512, 516 and the recipient device 506,514. The server 530 can translate or transcode the media contentaccording to the differences between the characteristics of theenvironment of the source device 512, 516 and the characteristics of theenvironment of the recipient device 506, 514. The server 530 can modifythe format of the media content, can change the encoding scheme used forthe media content, or can alter the media content to account for thedetected environment differences when the media content is presented byor on the recipient device 506, 514. The server 530 can modify the mediacontent by similar means, and with similar capabilities, as can be usedby the recipient device 506, 514. In step 1112, the server 530 canprovide the modified media content to the recipient device 506, 514 overthe communication system 100. The sever 530 can provide the modifiedmedia content as a file, as streaming data, or embedded in a message.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. In one embodiment, the metadatadescriptors can include metadata descriptors to store, transmit, andreceive video, audio, or still image content. In one embodiment, theserver 530 can retrieve a set of metadata descriptors from the recipientdevice 506, 514, where the recipient device has tagged the collectedsensory data into a set of metadata. In one embodiment, the server 530can retriever a digital representation of the environment of therecipient device 506, 514, where the recipient device has tagged thecollected sensory data into metadata and has grouped the metadata into adigital representation.

In one embodiment, the recipient device 506, 514 or the server 530 canuse object recognition applications to compare known patterns, objects,shapes, sounds, and/or places that appear in the video, audio, or stillimage content reported or identified as being of the source device 512,516 and/or the recipient device 506, 514. By comparing recognizedobjects, patterns, shapes, sounds, and/or places, differences in theenvironments of the source device 512, 516 and the recipient device 506,514 can be determined to guide modification of the media content or ofthe user interface of the recipient device 506, 514. In one embodiment,the recipient device 506, 512 or the server 540 can use objectrecognition applications to compare known patterns, objects, shapes,sounds, and/or places that appear in any virtual video, audio, or stillimage content reported or identified for the source device 512, 516and/or the recipient device 506, 514. Other embodiments are contemplatedby the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 1200 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the server 503, the media processor 506, thedisplay 508, computing devices 512, mobile devices 514, or combinationsthereof as described above. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the present disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 1200 may include a processor 1202 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 1204 and a static memory 1206, which communicate with each othervia a bus 1208. The computer system 1200 may further include a videodisplay unit 1210 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel,or a solid state display. The computer system 1200 may include an inputdevice 1212 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 1214 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 1216, a signal generation device 1218 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 1220.

The disk drive unit 1216 may include a tangible computer-readablestorage medium 1222 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions(e.g., software 1224) embodying any one or more of the methods orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 1224 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1204, the static memory 1206, and/or within theprocessor 1202 during execution thereof by the computer system 1200. Themain memory 1204 and the processor 1202 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 922 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe present disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA) are contemplated foruse by computer system 900.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: detecting, by a systemcomprising a processor, a first audio sensory source for remotelycapturing first audio information from a first physical environmentassociated with a recipient device; receiving, by the system, from thefirst audio sensory source, the first audio information associated withthe first physical environment; receiving, by the system, image contentand second audio information associated with a second physicalenvironment, wherein the second audio information is captured at thesecond physical environment, the second physical environment beingremote from the first physical environment; determining, by the system,an audio difference between the first audio information at the firstphysical environment and the second audio information at the secondphysical environment, wherein the audio difference is associated with adifference between physical characteristics of the first physicalenvironment and physical characteristics of the second physicalenvironment; and modifying, by the system, a presentation of the imagecontent and the second audio information according to the audiodifference to generate an adapted presentation of the second physicalenvironment according to the audio difference, so that physicalcharacteristics presented in the adapted presentation differ from thephysical characteristics of the second physical environment.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first audio sensory source comprises aset-top box, a mobile communication device, or a portable computerdevice, and wherein the recipient device comprises a set-top box, amobile communication device, a portable computer device, or acombination thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingreceiving, by the system, second sensory information associated with thefirst physical environment of the recipient device, wherein the secondsensory information comprises temperature, weather, lighting, color,images, video, audio, location information, time, season of year, aroma,or any combination thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprisingreceiving, by the system, second sensory information associated with thesecond physical environment, wherein the second sensory informationcomprises temperature, weather, lighting, images, video, audio,location, time, aroma, or a combination thereof.
 5. The method of claim1, further comprising: transcoding, by the system, the image contentaccording to the audio difference, wherein the determining of the audiodifference is based on metadata associated with the first audioinformation and the second audio information, wherein the metadata isgrouped into a digital representation.
 6. A recipient device,comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores executableinstructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitateperformance of operations, comprising: transmitting a request forsensory information; receiving, responsive to the request, first audioinformation from a first sensory source located at a first physicalenvironment of the recipient device, wherein the first sensory sourcecaptures at least the first audio information at the first physicalenvironment; receiving image content and second audio informationassociated with a second physical environment, wherein the second audioinformation is captured at the second physical environment, the secondphysical environment being remote from the first physical environment;determining at least an audio difference between the first audioinformation at the first physical environment and the second audioinformation at the second physical environment, wherein the audiodifference is associated with a difference between physicalcharacteristics of the first physical environment and physicalcharacteristics of the second physical environment; and modifying apresentation of the image content and the second audio information togenerate an adapted presentation of the second physical environmentaccording to at least the audio difference between the first audioinformation and the second audio information, so that physicalcharacteristics presented in the adapted presentation differ from thephysical characteristics of the second physical environment.
 7. Therecipient device of claim 6, wherein the executable instructions furtherfacilitate the performance of operations comprising: receiving firstvisual information from a second sensory source associated with thefirst physical environment of the recipient device; receiving secondvisual information associated with the second physical environment; anddetermining a visual difference between the first visual information andsecond visual information associated with the second physicalenvironment, wherein the image content is modified according to thevisual difference.
 8. The recipient device of claim 6, wherein theexecutable instructions further facilitate the performance of operationscomprising: receiving an offer of sensory data broadcast from a secondsensory source associated with the first physical environment of therecipient device; and sending a response to the second sensory source toestablish communications with the second sensory source.
 9. Therecipient device of claim 6, wherein the executable instructions furtherfacilitate the performance of operations comprising detecting the firstsensory source by way of a wireless communication interface conformingto a radio frequency identifier communication protocol, a wirelessfidelity communication protocol, a cordless phone communicationprotocol, a cellular phone communication protocol, or any combinationthereof.
 10. The recipient device of claim 6, wherein the executableinstructions further facilitate the performance of operationscomprising: capturing first non-audio sensory data associated with thefirst physical environment of the recipient device by way of sensoryinputs of the recipient device.
 11. The recipient device of claim 10,wherein the first non-audio sensory data comprises temperature, weather,lighting, color, images, video, location information, time, season ofyear, aroma of the recipient device, or a combination thereof.
 12. Therecipient device of claim 10, wherein the executable instructionsfurther facilitate the performance of operations comprising: receivingsecond non-audio sensory data associated with the second physicalenvironment, wherein the second non-audio sensory data comprisestemperature, weather, lighting, images, video, location, time, aroma orany combination thereof; determining a non-audio difference between thefirst non-audio sensory data and the second non-audio sensory data; andmodifying the presentation of the image content according to thenon-audio difference.
 13. The recipient device of claim 6, wherein thefirst sensory source is located at a set-top box, a mobile communicationdevice, or a portable computer device, and wherein the recipient devicecomprises a set-top box, a mobile communication device, a portablecomputer device, or a combination thereof.
 14. The recipient device ofclaim 6, wherein the executable instructions further facilitate theperformance of operations comprising: transcoding the image contentaccording to the audio difference.
 15. The recipient device of claim 6,wherein the executable instructions further facilitate the performanceof operations comprising: adapting a user interface of the recipientdevice according to the audio difference.
 16. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage device comprising executable instructionswhich, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations comprising: detecting a first sensory source for remotelycapturing sensory data from a first physical environment associated witha recipient device; receiving, from the first sensory source, firstaudio information and first image content captured at the first physicalenvironment; receiving, from a mobile phone device, via a cellularnetwork, second image content and second audio information associatedwith a second physical environment of the mobile phone device, whereinthe second image content and the second audio information is captured atthe second physical environment of the mobile phone device, the secondphysical environment being remote from the first physical environment;determining an image difference between the first image content at thefirst physical environment and the second image content at the secondphysical environment, wherein the image difference is associated with adifference between physical characteristics of the first physicalenvironment and physical characteristics of the second physicalenvironment; identifying a presentation element associated with thesecond image content; and adapting a user interface of the presentationelement to modify a presentation of the second image content to generatean adapted presentation of the second physical environment by thepresentation element according to the image difference, so that physicalcharacteristics presented in the adapted presentation differ from thephysical characteristics of the second physical environment.
 17. Thenon-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein theoperations further comprise: broadcasting a request for the first audioinformation to the first sensory source, wherein the detecting of thefirst sensory source comprises receiving a response to the request. 18.The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 16, whereinthe operations further comprise: receiving an offer of the first audioinformation that is broadcast from the first sensory source; and sendinga response to the offer.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable storagedevice of claim 16, wherein the detecting the first sensory source is byway a wireless communication interface conforming to a radio frequencyidentifier communication protocol, a wireless fidelity communicationprotocol, a cordless phone communication protocol, a cellular phonecommunication protocol, or any combination thereof.
 20. Thenon-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein theoperations further comprise capturing second sensory data associatedwith the first physical environment of the recipient device by way ofsensory inputs of the recipient device.